Automatic piano.



11058572610. PATENTBD JUNE 18, 1907.

` H. M. SALYER.

AUTOMATIC PIANO.

'APPLICATION FILED MAR.29. 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

film

IWI,

A @T1-fill? SH01/m1 PATIE:1\1TBD JUNE 1s. 1907.

No. 857,260s

H. M. SALYER.'

AUTGMATIG PIANO.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

www0/aow "PATENTBD JUNE 18, 1907'.

IH. M, SALYBR. AUTOMATIC PIANO.

APPLICATION FILED MB. 29, 1905.

fm. j

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

the roll 17 is shown` supported on the side rolongs are raised by the pneumatics 5 to a height corresponding to the lift of the prolongs by the keys 2, which in the example shown are limited in their downward movement at their iront ends by `the guide pin rail at the iront ends oi the keys. By having the stops e adiustable the upward movement of each prolong by lthe correspondingpneumatic can be independently regulated in accordance with the requirement of 'the correspending hammer.

I have shown a well known 'form ol operating pneumatic 5 to be connected, as by a pipe 12, with a well known form of bellows reservoir (not shown) to be exhausted. by the pedal operated bellows, for producingr suction in the bellows 5, tubes 13 connecting the passage 14 of each operating pneumatic 5 with the tracker 15 in well known manner, whereby as perforations ,in the music-sheet 16 pass over. the openings in the tracker the corresponding bellows 5 of the operatingpneumatics will be lifted to operate the corresponding prolong through its projection 7" to cause the corresponding hammer to strike a string 4.

`he tracker 15 and the rolls 17, 18 furthe music-sheet 16 are supported within a receptacle or box 19 that rests upon and is secured to ythe shelf 6, which receptacle is located above the operating pneumatics 5 and in front of the piano action 3, and in the space `behind thel usual front music-sheet rack above the shelf, whereby the tracker and the rolls 17, 18 are in convenient position lor access and occupy what would ordinarily be waste space in a piano. The tubes 13 extend rearwardly and downwardly from the tracker 15 through the Vri-iceptaclc 1S), and. within said receptacle is placed a shield 2l), which may be in the form of a metal sheet extending lrorn the tracker 15, to which it is secured, rearwardly behind and under the music-sheet take-up roll 1S and between said roll and the tubes 13, and is then extended lbrwardly and secured to the shelf (i, as by screws or the like 21. This shield 2() prevents injury to and displacement of tubes 13 when a music-sheet is being adjusted or rexnovged. The musicsheet rolls 17, 18 have supports '22, 23 attached to the side walls of receptacle 1S) and may be of any wellv known construction per'- niitting thc roll 17 to bc readily removed and replaced.

Mechanism vl'or operating;` the take-up roll 18 and for,rewindinpr thc music-sheet lf') on Wall 15) of receptacle 1S) above the operating pneu matics 5 and in front ol" the piano action 3. The mechanism for this purpose may be of any well known construction wherein an operating shaft 24, oneo'nd of which is snpported upon sl'ioli 6, as by a bearing 25, is provided. with a pinion 26 meshingwith a grcarv on the axis ol shalt 2.8 ol' roll 1H, the 1 of the keys would move sprocket wheel 29 on shaft 24 having a chain 30 that passes over a sprocket 31 on the shaft 17*FL of music roll 17. lNell known devices for causing the music roll v17 to rewind the music-sheetthereon. are shown in Fig. 9, but need. no further description.

matic motor for operating'the music-sheet The pneun controlling devices is indicated, generally, at

35 and. it is shown supported. by uprights .3e 'located at the sides of receptacle 1Q and secured thereto as well as to the shelf 6. The pipe 37 leads from motor 35 to the pedal bel lows in well known manner. A. sprocket 38 on the crank shaft oi' the motor by means of a chain 3Q passing over sprocket e() operates shaft 24. The motor 35 is thus located in the space within the piano case above and forward of thc action and above the tracker.

As the prolonge 7 can be li't-'ed by the pnenmatics free from the keys the front ends downwardly as the corresponding prolong was lifted, and the inner ends of the keysf'would therefore followthe upward movement of the prolonge, thereby tending more or less to resist the free downward movement of the prolonge alter the strings were struck by the hammers, thiis retarding to some extent the action 'of' the mechanical playing o'vthe piano. in order to keep the keys from movement during the time of mechanical playing i. provide means to hold the keys rigidly and which may be withdrawn from thekeys to permit them to have free movement for manual playing. To

this end i have shown a bar 2a, extending across the key board in line with the keys adapted to be moved into and out of contact with the keys as desired.

in .ijligi vis eccentrically journaled, or in thc nature of a cam shaft extending under the front` portions bf the keys, adapted when turned to the-position shown in full lines in Fig. tto bear against the keys and prevent thcln froinfollowing the i'no'vcinents of the prolongs, and when said cani shalt is moved down substantially as shown in dotted lines in Fig. l, the keys will be i'rcc to be operated manually.

in the foregoing it will be seen that all the essential parts of a pneumatic piano playing mechanism are located in the space in l'ront of the strings and above the inannal keys or the key board in what is usually waste `spin-c in anl ordinary piano case, whereby such caso can be utilized without changing the Aposi- The bar 2LL shown y l/ A. j e free to be operated manually in usual fanner without any interference.

:Having now described my invention .whatV` il claim is :l

,'5. Y f 1. In a piano the combination of the piano f .action and the keys, with operating pneuupon the shelf of the piano in front o matics located above the keys and forward of 'rolls supported upon said receptacle, anio- ,y tor for operating t e music-sheet devices, and means for su porting .the saine above said'rei ce tacle 'n1-t e s ace forward ol the strings,

su stantially as escribed. l

Y2. InA a piano the combination of the piano action and the keys, with operating pneumatics located above the keys forward of the zo prolongs of the action, means for operating the action by said penumatics, a receptacle supported by the shelf of the piano forward of t e action, a tracker supported within'said receptacle, music-sheet rolls and means for supporting the same within said reeptacle',

devices for operating said rolls supp rted by saidreceptacle, and a motor connected'wit lthe music-sheet operating devices andsup- I portedabove said receptacle in the space for- 3o ward of the strings, substantially as described. 3. In'a piano the combination actiongand the keys, with operating pneumatics located above-the keys forward of the 3 5 prolongs of the action, means'for operating the action by said pneumatics, a receptacle I *c sup orted by the shelf of the pianoforward.

4p' porti ward oithe str' of t 4e action,1a tracker supported within said receptacle, music-sheet rolls, means `for supng the same within said receptacle, devices or operating saidv rolls supported b said receptacle, and a motor. connected wit vthe music-sheet loperating "devices and supprted above said receptacle in the space fors, a shaft of the music- 'sheet ,'ting cvices having a support carriedv (y the shelf of the piano, substanl tially as escribed.

5o action an 4. In a ianoy the combination of the piano d) keys, with operative pneumatics connected with the action for mechanically operating the same, arms connected with the prolongs of the action, and means for limiti ing the upward movement of said arms, substantially -as described.

y 5. In a pian`o the combination of the piano actionand keys, with operative pneumatics connected with the action for mechanically operating the same, arms'co'nnec'ted with the of the piano prolonge of the action, and stops above said arms to limit the upward movement of the arms, substantially as described. u

6. In a piano the combination of thelpiano,n

action and keys, with operative pneumatics connected -with the action for mechanically operating the same, arms connected with the prolongs of the action, sto s above said arms, and 4means for adjustab y supporting said stops to limit the upward movement of the prolongal substantially as described.

7: Ina piano the combination of the piano action and keys withoperating pneumatics located above the keys forward 'of the prolongs of the action, connections between the pro ongs and the corresponding pneumatics, and stopsl to limit the upward movement of the prolongs, substantially as described'.

S. In a piano the combination ofthe piano action and keys, with operating pneumatics located above' the keysv forward of the -prolongs of the action, connections between the prolongs andthe corresponding pneumatics, arms connected with the prolonge, and stops above 'the arms to limit the upward movement of the prolonge, substantially as described. l

9. In a piano the combination of the piano action` and keys, withoperating pneumatics located above the keys forward of the prolon s of the action,- connections between the pro ongs and the corresponding pneumatics,

arms connected with the prolongs, stops- "above the arms, and means for adjustably supporting said stops, whereby the upward `movement of the prolongs may be regulated, substantially as described.

10. In a pianoforte action a wippen, an extension connected thereto and engaging the key, a swinging guide connected to the eX- tension, a rail, a stop attached to the rail and located in the path of said uide and serving to limit -the motion thereo? when the key is struck and thereby limit the motion of the wippen, substantially as described.

11. In a mechanically operated piano, the combination with the piano action having abstract rods, of rods or plates having elongated openings, for receiving screws engaging with the abstract rods, the lower end of said rods being enlarged to form abutinents, substantially as described, said elongated slots enabling vertical adjustment of said plate on IOO Vthe abstract rod and said screws serving to secure said plate in any adjustable position.

HARRY M. SALYEBJ- Witnesses:

T..F. BOURNE, M. vHoLLiNcfsHnAn. 

